Story Highlights

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- While many were focusing on Jimmy Rollins' absence from the lineup, Roberto Hernandez took the mound against the Yankees on Thursday and looked like the second-most reliable starter in the Phillies' rotation.

Hernandez allowed just one hit in five-plus innings. He made it through the first five frames with a perfect game intact and was pulled after the Yankees' first batter in the sixth, Scott Sizemore, singled up the middle.

Outside of Cliff Lee, Hernandez has looked like the Phillies' best starter this spring, allowing three runs in 13 1/3 innings. Thursday marked his fourth start of the spring.

"That was the sharpest I've seen him," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "Stuff was down, quality pitches, good off-speed stuff. Ground balls when needed. To do it 62, 63 pitches, that was a nice outing for him."

Utley adjusting to shifts

In the past, defensive shifts against the Phillies have been mostly reserved for Ryan Howard. That may change this season, as Chase Utley has been seeing shifts regularly in Grapefruit League action.

In his 531 plate appearances last season, defenses used a shift 47 times against the left-handed Utley. Howard saw 218 shifts in 317 plate appearances. The Yankees shifted on Utley in each of his at-bats Thursday.

"He came up and talked to me about them playing the shift and ... he said 'You know, I wouldn't mind slapping one to left right here or laying one down for a bunt down the third-base line,' " Sandberg said. "So he was thinking the game and ended up doing it his next at-bat, so I liked that."

Utley slapped a ground ball through the left side in his second at-bat, which came in the third inning.

Extra innings

Phillies pitching coach Bob McClure said Cole Hamels is feeling "fine" one day after Wednesday's bullpen session, which came after his second setback of the spring. McClure said he did not know when Hamels will throw again. The pitcher entered the spring behind on his throwing schedule because of offseason tendinitis. ... Ben Revere continued his solid spring Thursday, going 2 for 4 with a run in the Phillies' 6-2 win. Revere is hitting .323 in Grapefruit League play. ... Reliever Jeremy Horst struggled again Thursday, allowing two runs in 1 2/3 innings. Horst's ERA in four outings is 9.64.